US, European and Ukrainian officials meet in Miami on ending war with Russia

Mixed · 2Representatives of the US, Europe, Ukraine and NATO held talks in Miami, Florida, on Friday 9 October on ways to de-escalate and end the war with Russia ahead of winter. 1 2 Right · 1US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, posting on X, called the discussions "constructive" and said they included the E3, the European Commission, Ukraine and NATO. 2 Centre · 1Witkoff said the talks covered near-term winter preparedness (energy resilience, grain exports), security guarantees, longer-term security arrangements for Ukraine and Europe, and support for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction, including EU accession. 1

Mixed · 2He said the exchange helped identify areas for further exploration ahead of the United States' next engagement with Russia; he did not say whether the parties would meet again on 10 October as originally planned. 1 2 Centre · 1The same day, President Donald Trump said he had a "highly successful discussion" with Vladimir Putin, and that Russia would immediately supply over 300,000 tons of diesel to US and global markets, 500,000 tons in November and 1,000,000 tons after that. 1 Mixed · 2The US Treasury issued a general licence for Russian-origin diesel transactions through 7 April next year; AFP reported it was unclear whether Trump and Putin discussed Ukraine, and said the announcement overshadowed the Miami talks. 1 2

Left · 1Al Jazeera reported that Putin told Trump that resuming talks with Ukraine is unlikely, citing drone attacks on Moscow during parliamentary elections last month. 3 Left · 1Al Jazeera said the diesel deal was criticised by US lawmakers, Zelensky and European allies; Zelensky called it a "gift to Putin", and a Ukrainian drone hit a Russian fuel site hours later. 3 Right · 1AFP reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on 8 October in Lisbon that a stalemate could end through escalation, including spread to neighbouring NATO countries, while saying there is no military solution. 2

Right · 1The meeting follows September visits to Moscow and Kyiv by Witkoff and Jared Kushner; talks have foundered over Moscow's demand for all of the eastern Donbas, which Zelensky has rejected. 2 Mixed · 2The talks came amid deadly Russian attacks, including a strike on buses in eastern Ukraine; Al Jazeera put the death toll at 33 and AFP, naming Kramatorsk, at 30. 3 2 Right · 1Washington hopes for progress before November's midterms and is seeking broader talks with Russia and Ukraine later in October; the Kremlin has signalled three-way talks could resume then, with no date set. 2